Pedestal base



R. J. BOTKIN PEDESTAL BASE Nov. 22, 1966 Filed June 1, 1966 INVENTOR. fi'oekz J 505/021 Tram/5V;

United States Patent O 3,286,966 PEDESTAL BASE Robert J. Botkin, Louisville, Ky., assignor to American Metal Products Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 1, 1966, Ser. No. 554,494 17 Claims. (Cl. 248-1885) This invention relates to a pedestal base of the type suitable for supporting furniture and the like and, more specifically, to a novel construction of a pedestal base of the type including a pair of crossed legs with a support means disposed on the legs and adapted for supporting a piece of furniture.

This invention represents an alternative or an improvement of the constructions covered in copending applications Serial No. 495,794, filed October 14, 1965, in the names of Roy F. McMahan, In, and Robert I. Botkin and Serial No. 531,416, filed March 3; 1966, in the name of Roy F. McMahan, In, which applications are assigned to the assignee of the instant application.

Pedestal bases of the instant type are utilized for supporting chairs, desks, benches, tables and other types of furniture and normally include a leg member which contacts, or is adapted to contact, the floor at the ends and is attached to a support structure at the mid-portion thereof, the support structure being adapted to support a piece of furniture. Frequently, the leg members are bow shaped upwardly toward the mid-portion from the respective ends to provide an attractive appearance; thus, the respective ends of the leg members contact the floor. Such bowshaped leg members must be made of a sufficient strength to support loads thereon while remaining bow shaped. At the same time, however, such leg members are preferably made of a minimum of material to reduce material costs and the number of manufacturing operations necessary to form the legs.

One of the objects of each of the devices disclosed in the aforementioned applications is to provide a pedestal base utilizing bowed legs which is of an attractive configuration and is manufactured of a minimum of material to support a piece of furniture through support means disposed on the leg members by a novel construction which prevents the straightening of the bow shape from the leg members as forces are applied thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object and feature of the instant invention to provide an alternative pedestal base of the aforementioned type including a novel combination of elements for providing increased strength.

Another object and feature of the instant invention is to provide an alternative pedestal base of the aforementioned type which includes a pair of crossed leg members with a tension plate of novel configuration interconnecting the respective leg members to increase the strength of the assembly and to facilitate handling and assembly of the pedestal base. I

In general, these and other objects and features of the invention may be attained in a preferred embodiment of the pedestal base which includes a pair of crossed leg members with a support means disposed on the leg members and adapted to support a piece of furniture. Each leg member has first and second ends with a bow shape between the ends. Each leg member also has a cross section of a substantially V shape which increases in size from the respective ends toward the mid-portion of each respective leg member. The support means includes an "ice elongated member having a pair of V-shaped notches in a first end thereof with each of the leg members disposed in one pair of notches. A support plate is disposed across th other end of the elongated member and is adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture. A tension plate is disposed at the intersection of the leg members and includes a susbtantially planar portion with four projections extending at an angle to the planar portion and between the diverging sides forming the V shape of each respective leg member. Each projection is tapered and is welded along the tapered edge to the diverging sides of the respective leg members. A tension means interconnects the support plate and the tension plate for securing the support plate, the elongated member, and the leg members together. The respective projections of the tension plate extend between and are welded to the respective diverging sides of the leg members and, thus, prevent the diverging sides of the leg members from moving together to increase the bow strength of the respective leg members as forces are applied thereto through the elongated member.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the novel tension plate utilized in the pedestal base of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is generally shown at 10 a prefered embodiment of the pedestal base of the instant invention which is suitable for supporting furniture, such as that illustrated in phantom in FIGURE 1.

A first leg member, generally indicated at 12, has first and second ends 14 with a bow shape between the ends 14. The ends 14 of the leg member 12 are adapted to contact a support structure such as a floor, preferably through the members 16. The leg member 12 includes a mid-portion which is disposed at a distance above the floor when the ends 14 are disposed upon the floor due to the bow shape.

There is also included a second leg member, generally indicated at 18, and like the leg member 12, has a bow shape between the opposite ends thereof so that the midportion is disposed above the floor when the ends are in contact with the floor. The leg member 18 also utilizes the members 16 at the respective ends thereof.

The leg members 12 and 18 I lave cross sections at least adjacent the mid porti-ons thereof, which include interconnecting diverging sides 22 and 24, and 26 and 28 respectively. The cross section of each of the respective leg members 12 and 18 forms a V shape which increases in size from the respective ends of the leg members 12 and 18 to the respective mid-(portions thereof. The leg members 12 and 18 also include respective complementary notches 30 and 32 and the first leg member 12 is disposed in crossed relationship with the second leg member 18 so that each of the leg members 12 and 18 is disposed in the notch of the other leg member. That is, the

first leg member 12 is disposed in the notch 32 of the second leg member 18 and the second leg member 18 is disposed in the notch 30 of the first leg member 12.

A tension plate, generally indicated at 34, is disposed across the mid-portions of the leg members and includes a substantially planar portion 36 which engages the outward ends of the diverging sides of the leg members at the intersection between the leg members. The tension plate 34 also includes four projections 38 which extend away firom the planar portion 36 at an angle thereto so as to extend upward between the diverging sides of the respective leg members. Each projection 38 is tapered, as best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4. Means comprising the welds 40 secures or interconnects the projections 38 to the diverging sides of the respective leg members on opposite sides of the intersection of the leg members for increasing the strength of the respective leg members. That is, each projection 38 is welded to the adjacent diverging sides of the respective leg members along the tapered portions thereof. By welding the tapered projections 38 to the diverging sides of the respective leg members, the diverging sides of the respective leg members are prevented from moving together, thus increasing the bow strength of the respective leg members so that the respective leg members may support an increased load. Additionally, the swurement of the-tension plate 34 to the diverging sides of the leg members 12 and 18 facilitates less handling in shipment and reduces the time necessary to assemble each pedestal.

'Dhe pedestal base also includes 'a support means, generally shown at 42, which is adapted to be connected to a piece of furniture and is disposed on the respective leg members 12 and 1-8. More specifically, the support means 42 includes a hollow elongated member 44 having two pair of V-shaped notches 46 in one end so that each leg member is disposed in one pair of the notches. A support plate 48 is disposed across the other end of the elonigated hollow member 44 and is adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture, as by the screws 5%]; Tension means comprising the tie rods 5-2 operatively interconnect the support plate 48 and the tension plate 34. The

tie rods 52 are disposed within the hollow member 44 i with each tie rod threadedly engaging the support plate 48 at one end and extending through the holes 56 in tension .plate 34 at the opposite end. Fastening means comprising the nuts 54 are disposed'on the lower ends of the tie rods 52 -for placing the tie rods in tension to hold the pedestal base assembly together. The diverging sides 26 and 28 of the leg member 18 are indented, as indicated at 58, to allow the tie rods 52 to be closely spaced and to pass on either side of the leg member 18.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of Words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be :pra-cticed otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive propertly or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A base of the type suitable for supporting finnitine and the like comprising: a leg member having a mid-portion and first and second ends with a bow shape between said ends; a tension plate disposed across said midapor tion of said leg member; and means interconnecting said tension plate and said leg member on opposite sides of said midportion thereof for increasing the strength of said leg member.

2. A base of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said means comprises a weld between said leg member and said tension plate on each side of said mid portion.

3. A base of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said said projections extend between said diverging sides from said planar portion at an angle thereto.

6. A base of the type set forth in claim 5 including support means disposed on said leg member and adapted to be connected to a piece of furniture to be supported by said leg member.

7. A base of the type set forth in claim 6 wherein said support means includes a hollow member having a pair.

of notches in a first end thereof with said leg member being disposed in said notches, a support plate disposed across the second end of said hollow member and adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture, tensions means operatively interconnecting said support plate and said tension plate.

8. A pedestal base of the type suitable tor supporting turniture and the like comprising: a first leg member having a mid-portion and first and second ends witha bow shape between said ends thereof; a second leg memher having a mid-portion and first and second ends with a bow shape between said ends thereof; said leg members including respective complementary notches with said first leg member disposed in crossed relationship with said second leg member so that each of said leg members is disposed in the notch of the other leg member; a tension plate disposed across said mid-portions of said leg members, and means interconnecting said tension plate and said leg members on opposite sides of the intersection therebetween for increasing the strength of said leg members.

9. A base of the type set forth in claim 8 wherein said means comprises a weld between said respective leg members and said tension plate.

10. A base of the type set forth in claim 8 wherein each of said leg members has a cross section, at least iadjai said means comprises a weld securing each of said projections to said diverging sides of one of said leg members.

12. A base of the type set forth in claim 11 wherein said tension plate includes a substantially planar portion.

engaging the outward ends of said diverging sides at the intersection between said leg members, and said projec- 'tiOns extend away from said planar portion at an angle thereto so as to extend between said diverging sides.

13. A base of the type set forth in claim 12 wherein each of said projections is tapered and is welded to the respective diverging sides along the tapered portions thereof.

14. A base of the type set forth in claim 13 wherein said diverging sides of each of said leg members from a V-shape which increases in size from said first and sec ond ends to the respective midportions thereof.

15. A base of the type set forth in claim 14 including support means adapted to be connected to a piece of two pair of V-shaped notches in a first end thereof with each of said leg members disposed on one pair of said notches, a support plate disposed across the second end of said hollow member and adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture, and tension means operatively interconnecting said snppomt plate and said tension plate.

17. A base of the type set forth in claim 16 wherein said tension means includes a pair of tie rods disposed within said hol low member with each tie rod |th1eaded 1y engaging said support plate at a first end thereof and extending through said tension plate at the second end thereof, and fastening means disposed on the respective second ends of said tie rods for placing said tie mods in tension.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown 24 8-1881 Makoski et a1 108-147 Jones 248-l88.7 Isakson 248188.7 Frenoh 248158 0 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BASE OF THE TYPE SUITABLE FOR SUPPORTING FURNITURE AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A LEG MEMBER HAVING A MID-PORTION AND FIRST AND SECOND ENDS WITH A BOW SHAPE BETWEEN SAID ENDS; A TENSION PLATE DISPOSED ACROSS SAID MID-PORTION OF SAID LEG MEMBER; AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID TENSION PLATE AND SAID LEG MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MID-PORTION THEREOF FOR INCREASING THE STRENGTH OF SAID LEG MEMBER. 